Man gets 10 years for doing nothing

[Wonk]

to stop in Burkheimer slaying

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

EVERETT, Wash. -- A 23-year-old man who did nothing to help Rachel Burkheimer when she was tied up, beaten and killed by his friends has been sentenced to nearly 10 years in prison.

Prosecutors originally charged Jeff Barth of Everett with first-degree murder, conspiracy and kidnapping in the September 2002 abduction and killing of 18-year-old Burkheimer.

(snip)

"I have to live knowing I could have stopped what happened," he said.

(snip)

Allendoerfer said it was clear Barth knew about plans to kidnap Burkheimer and stood by doing nothing, and noted that testimony indicated Barth joined in taunting and humiliating her while she was tied up in the garage.

more...
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/aplocal_story.asp?category=6420&slug=WA%20Abduction%20Slaying

Should have got 25, imho.

[liberalhistorian]

1. Amen to that, he was just as guilty

as those who did the actual killing. Few things piss me off more than people who don't stop things like this when they can.

[DulceDecorum]

2. So, how do you feel about

the Supreme Court's actions in Bush v Gore.

[oscar111]

3. Life in prison for that bystander

way too lenient.

One nation routinely makes it a crime to be a bystander, as watching idly as someone drowns.
Not a crime here.

We need to be harder on violence.
but with more humane prisons at the same time.

[RoeBear]

4. How does this relate to this story?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=118x73331

Certainly this Barth dude is more culpable than the case of the gas station attendants that filled the tank of the drunk driver, but should the attendants have been required to call the cops?

[MrSandman]

5. Nothing?

"...noted that testimony indicated Barth joined in taunting and humiliating her while she was tied up in the garage."

In this case, IMO, doing nothing is a crime of ommission. Omitting is a behavior which is chosen.

[7th_Sephiroth]

6. so if i walk by while seeing a woman get mugged and keep on walking

seeing the muggers gun and not wanting to get shot, does that make me as bad of a criminal as the mugger?

[FeebMaster]

7. It's not like he did nothing.

testimony indicated Barth joined in taunting and humiliating her while she was tied up in the garage."